Resilient switch crank



Feb. 12, 1952 c. M. AMON 2,585,211

RESILIENT SWITCH CRANK Filed June 17, 1949 INVENTOR. (flaw/ s M fima/Z Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE RESILIEN T SWITCH CRANK Charles M. Amomhhungstown, Ohio I Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,610 (o1. 74.559)

3 Claims.

This invention relates to railway switches and more particularly to a resilient switch crank as used in connection with a switch mechanism and switch stand.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a, resilient switch crank for efiecting a mechanical connection between a switch stand and a switch connecting rod.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a resilient switch crank providing a mechanical crank connection between a switch connecting rod. and a switch stand and formed of material capable of resilient deflection to per mit a locomotive and/or car to run through the switch controlled by the device without breaking the same.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a. resilient switch crank incorporating a structure partially in tension. and partially in compression. when. deflected from its normal longitudinal plane.

The resilient switch crank shown and described herein comprises an improvement in the art of switch crank and switch stand constructions as commonly connected. with switches in railroad tracks for controlling the movement and position of the switch. It is well known that switches interconnecting various railway tracks are commonly actuated by connecting rods run to one side of the track and connected with a switch stand incorporating a throwing lever by means of which, the switch itself is actuated and the switch stand usually incorporates a signal indicating the position of the switch. The signal is moved automatically by the operation of I the throwing lever and the switch.

The practice heretofore has been to connect the switch stand and throwing lever to the switch and its connecting rod by means of a metal switch crank with the result that a positive mechanical connection is made between the switch stand mechanism and the switch which is uh.- yielding in the event a locomotive and/or car runs through the switch with the result that the switch cranks are frequently broken. This requires continuous maintenance and replacement of the broken switch cranks in order that, the. switches can be operated and the signalsv properly given. This problem exists particularly in indus-- trial plant switch yards and the like wherein an unusually high traific volume over a relatively small trackage incorporating a great manyswitches exists. It has been customary to replace hundreds of the switch cranks each month in the switch yards of many of the industrial plants such as iron and steel works and the. like.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to eliminate this costly and time consuming replacement of switch cranks heretofore believed necessary in order to maintain the trackage switches and switch stands in operative condition.

The, present invention relates to a switch crank formed of suitable rubber-like material in a shape enabling it to successfully perform its mechanical function in operating the switchupon the movement of the throwing lever and at the same. time provide sulhc-ient deflection due to its resiliency and shape to permit the switch and connecting rod tobe moved as by a train running through'the switch withoutmoving the signal or the throwing lever and without. breaking any of the several parts connected therewith.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction, hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch stand showing the resilient switch crank in position thereon.v

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the switch crank with parts broken away and parts in cross section.

Figure- 3 is a top plan, view of the switch; shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4. is. a vertical section taken on line. 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5is anv enlarged section of one end of the switch crank shown in Figure 2 illustrating a reinforcing construction incorporated therein.

By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that a switch stand is disclosed and generally indicated by the numeral Ill and including a base member H and a rotatable vertical member l2. A signal I3 is affixed to the. rotatable member 12 and the stand I I0 encloses mechanism pivotally mounting a therefrom is imparted to a connecting rod 16 by means of a switch crank IT. The switch crank I I illustrated and described herein as a double crank is formed of rubber-like resilient material suitably shaped to handle the mechanical load of the switch movement as occasioned by manual movement of the throwing lever Id.

The switch crank I1 is shown in enlarged and cross-sectional detail in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings and, by referring to these figures, it will be seen to comprise a hub part I8a. having a square central opening I8 and having at opposite sides of the hub part I8a pairs of similarly formed straight, flat arms 2I and 22 extending laterally in opposed spaced aligned relation from longitudinally spaced peripheral portions of the hub part I8a with their fiat faces extending in planes perpendicularly to the axis of the hub part. As shown, the hub part I8a is of substantial length, the same being built up by upper and lower collars I9 and 20 to provide suitable engagement with the squared shaft I5. The laterally extending arms 2| and 22, which are of substantially less thickness than the length of the hub part I8a are of greatest width at the juncture of the same with the hub part I8a, and at that point are substantially equal in width to one half the circumference of the hub part, said arms tapering longitudinally from the hub part toward their outer ends and being of substantially less width at their outer ends than at their juncture with the hub part. Extending laterally from opposite sides of the hub part ISu. between and formed integral with the inner end portions of the pairs of laterally extending arms 2| and 22 are broad, flat reinforcing web portions I817. The pairs of laterally extending arms 2I and 22 have aligned apertures 24 in their outer end portions. A pivot pin 23 is shown in Fig. l as engaging the apertures 24 in the pair of laterally extending portions 22 to pivotally secure one end of the connecting rod I6 thereto.

The switch crank I1 is formed of rubber-like material capable of transferring the necessary mechanical movement therethrough when the switch is operated as by moving the throwing lever I4 and at the same time provides for sufficient deflection from its normal longitudinal plane to permit movement of the connecting rods I6 without corresponding movement of the squared shaft I5 and the throwing lever I4. Such movement in an ordinary commercial switch stand will amount to approximately 1 /2 inches of sideward deflection in a 4% length from the center of the squared opening I8 to the vertically aligned openings 24 in the end 22 of the switch crank I'I. Such deflection is possible due to the construction of the switch crank I? from rubber-like material havin the necessary resiliency and shaped so that portions thereof are in compression and portions in tension when mechanical movement is' conveyed through the device.

By referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the sides 25, 26 and 21, 28 of the pairs of laterally extending arms 2I and 22 respectively, extend longitudinally along opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the switch crank so that mechanical motion transmitted through the switch crank H at such time as the throwing lever I4 is moved and the squared shaft I5 rotated will place one side of the pair of laterally extending arms 22 of the switch crank IT in tension and the opposite sides thereof in compression. For example, in Figure 1 of the drawings movement of the throwing lever I4 from right to left will move the squared shaft I5 and cause the switch crank I I to move counterclockwise as viewed from above, thereby placing the sides 28 in compression and the sides 21 in tension. As a result of these inherent characteristics of the resilient switch crank I! the connecting rod 16 will be moved and the switch (not shown) thrown.

At such time as a locomotive or car runs through the switch controlled by the connecting rod I6, the normal position of the throwing lever I4 will hold the squared shaft I5 in fixed position while the switch will move the connecting rod I6. Such action will distort the switch crank I? by distorting the structure thereof momentarily, the sides 21 and 23 of the pair of laterally extending arms 22 being placed in compression and tension, respectively, and enabling the switch crank H to resume its normal shape. The several openings in the switch crank, for example, the squared opening I8 and the vertically aligned openings 24 in the bifurcated end 22 thereof, are preferably reinforced so that the rubber-like resilient switch crank I'I will retain its normal shape despite stresses imparted thereto as in the hereinbefore described operation of the device.

In Figure 4 of the drawings a vertical section of the switch crank Il may be seen and by referring thereto it will be observed that a plurality of horizontally disposed fabric layers 29 are provided in the central section of the device and about the squared opening I8 therein and which fabric layers 29 will insure the resilient switch crank retaining a squared shape in the opening I8 as is necessary for the satisfactory operation on the squared shaft I5.

By referring to Figure 5 of the drawings an enlarged detailed cross sectional elevation of a portion of the switch crank shown in Figure 2 of the drawings may be seen and the bifurcated end 22 thereof and the verticall aligned openings 24 therein may be seen to be provided with encircling fabric layers 30 to reinforce the end portion of the device and enable the tension exerted by its operation to be resisted satisfactorily thereby.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that while a double switch crank has been illustrated herein, a single switch crank may be formed in accordance with the invention for use in indicated locations and which single switch crank is essentially the same as the switch crank disclosed herein with the exception that one of the extending end sections is eliminated so that pro vision for but one connection to a connecting rod is made.

It will thus be seen that the rubber-like resilient switch crank shown and described herein meets the several objects of the invention and provides a desirable switch crank construction which will eliminate the springing of switches, breaking of switch cranks and de-railing of locomotives and cars which would otherwise occur when the same are run through open switches resulting from breakage of the switches themselves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A switch crank formed of rubber-like mateterial, said crank including a reinforced hub part having a central shaft receiving opening therein, and having two integral similarly formed straight flat arms extending laterally in opposed spaced aligned relation from longitudinally spaced peripheral portions of one side of the hub part with their fiat faces extending in planes perpendicular to the axi of the hub part, the laterally extending arms being of substantially less thickness than the length of the hub part and being resilient, the arms each being of greatest width at the juncture of the same with the hub part and at that point substantially equal to one-half the circumference thereof, the opposite side edges of the arms converging to the outer ends of the same, the outer ends of the arms being of substantially less width than the Width of the arms at the juncture of the same with the hub each arm having an opening therein adjacent its outer end and the openings in the arms being in alignment, and said crank having a broad flat reinforcing web portion extending laterally from one side of the hub part between inner end por tions of said laterally extending arms and formed integral therewith.

2. A double switch crank formed of rubber-like material, said crank including a reinforced hub part having a central shaft receiving opening therein and having at opposite sides of the hub part a pair of integral similarly formed straight flat arms extending laterally in opposed spaced aligned relation from longitudinally spaced peripheral portions of one side of the hub part with their flat faces extending in planes perpendicular to the axis of the hub part, the laterally extending arms being of substantially less thickness than the length of the hub part and being resilient, the arms each being of greatest width at the juncture of the same with the hub part and at that point substantially equal to one-half of the circumference thereof, the opposite side edges of the arms converging to the outer ends of the same, the outer ends of the arms being of substantially less width than the width of the arms at the juncture of the same with the hub part, each arm having an opening therein adjacent its outer end and the openings in each pair of arms being in alignment, and said crank having broad fiat reinforcing Web portions extending laterally from opposite sides of the hub part between inner end portions of the pairs of laterally extending arms and formed integral therewith.

3. A switch stand including a supporting base, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on the base, a manually operated throw lever operatively connected with said shaft to rotate the same through a partial turn, a crank formed of rubberlike material and including a reinforced hub part having a central opening in which the lower portion of said vertical shaft fits, the hub part being fixedly secured to said shaft to rotate therewith, said crank having two integral similarly formed straight fiat arms extending laterally in opposed spaced aligned relation from longitudinally spaced peripheral portions of one side of the hub part with their flat faces extending in planes perpendicular to the axis of the hub part, the laterally extending arms being of substantially less thickness than the length of the hub and being resilient, the arms each being of greatest width at the juncture of the same with the hub part and at that point being of a width substantially equal to one-half the circumference of the hub part, the opposite side edges of the arms converging to the outer ends of the same, the outer ends of the arms being of substantially less width than the width of the arms at the juncture of the same with the hub part, and each arm having an opening therein adjacent its outer end and the openings in the arms being in alignment, and said crank having a broad flat reinforcing web portion extending laterally from one side of the hub part between inner end portions of said laterally extending arms and formed integral therewith, and a horizontally extending switch control rod having one end thereof disposed between said laterally extending arms of the crank, a pin engaging the apertures in said laterally extending arms and an aperture in the end portion of the control rod and connecting the latter to the crank for pivotal movement horizontally relative thereto, said crank being capable of transmitting the necessary mechanical movement therefrom to said switch control rod when the throw lever is operated to throw the switch, said spaced laterally extending arms being sufiiciently resilient to provide for sufficient deflection of the same from the normal longitudinal plane of the crank to permit movement of the control rod without corresponding movement of the vertical shaft when a locomotive or car runs through a switch controlled by said connecting rod.

CHARLES M. AMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,908 Adamson Dec. 11, 1906 1,488,527 Caldwell Apr. 1, 1924 1,604,925 MacDonald Oct. 26, 1926 1,947,695 Carthew Feb. 20, 1934 1,967,389 Andres July 24, 1934 2,351,289 Rickard June 13, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,402 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1902 

